Endless hot water. Lower energy bills. A unit that lasts 20 years instead of 10. Tankless water heaters are the future — and we're North Bay's most experienced tankless installers. We handle Navien, Rinnai, Noritz, and all major brands, including full conversions from tank to tankless.
North Bay Plumbers installs tankless water heaters across North Bay, Callander, and Sturgeon Falls. Tankless (on-demand) water heaters provide unlimited hot water, take up a fraction of the space, and last 15–20 years compared to 8–12 for tank units. Installation costs $3,000–$5,000 including the unit, venting, gas line upgrades (if needed), and permits. We install Navien, Rinnai, and Noritz — the three most reliable brands in the Canadian market. Improper tankless installation is the #1 cause of performance problems — hire a licensed installer. Call 705-482-1253.
Tankless isn't for every home — but for most North Bay families, it's a significant upgrade. Here are the situations where tankless makes the most sense.
Proper installation is everything with tankless. An undersized gas line, wrong venting, or poor configuration leads to cold water sandwiches, error codes, and frustration. Here's how we do it right.
Evaluate your home's hot water demand, gas line capacity, venting options, and electrical requirements. We calculate the GPM (gallons per minute) your household needs based on the number of fixtures, bathrooms, and simultaneous usage patterns to size the unit correctly.
Recommend the right brand and model for your household size and usage. We carry Navien, Rinnai, and Noritz — each with different strengths. We match the unit to your actual needs, not just sell you the most expensive option.
Upgrade the gas line if needed — most existing gas lines are sized for tank water heaters, and tankless requires higher BTU input. Install proper stainless steel category III or IV venting. Add condensate drain with freeze protection for North Bay's winters.
Mount the unit, connect gas, water, electrical, and venting. Program temperature settings optimized for your household. Install isolation valves for easy future maintenance and flushing. Everything done to code with permits pulled.
Test at full flow, verify temperature output at multiple fixtures throughout the house, and adjust settings. We demonstrate operation to you — how to set temperature, what the error codes mean, and when to schedule annual maintenance flushing.
Installing tankless in Northern Ontario isn't the same as in Toronto or Vancouver. Cold climate installation requires specific knowledge that most generic installers don't have.
Most existing gas lines in North Bay homes are sized for tank water heaters at 40,000–50,000 BTU. Tankless units require 150,000–199,000 BTU — meaning the gas line often needs upgrading to a larger diameter. We assess this upfront and include the upgrade in our quote so there are no surprises.
At –30°C, condensate lines from high-efficiency tankless units can freeze solid if not properly protected. We install with freeze protection on all condensate drains and use proper termination clearances for North Bay's snow loads. This is where inexperienced installers create problems.
Navien has become the top-selling tankless brand in Northern Ontario for good reason — their condensing units are designed for cold climates, come recirculation-ready for instant hot water (no cold water sandwiches), and have the best warranty support in Canada. We install more Navien units than any other brand.
Tankless actually saves more money in North Bay than in warmer regions. Incoming water temperature in winter can drop below 5°C, meaning tank heaters work constantly to maintain temperature. Tankless only fires when you open a tap. The colder it gets, the more you save compared to a tank that's heating 24/7.
Tankless costs more upfront than a tank replacement — but lasts twice as long and saves 20–30% on energy every year. Here's what the full installation includes.
Tankless water heater installation in North Bay costs $3,000–$5,000 fully installed, including the unit, venting, gas line upgrades (if needed), and permits. Navien NCB series — the most popular in our area — runs $3,500–$4,500 installed. Rinnai RU series ranges from $3,500–$5,000. The price includes removal of your old tank unit.
Tankless is actually more beneficial in cold climates like North Bay. Tank water heaters work harder in winter because incoming water is colder and standby heat loss is greater in cold basements. Tankless only heats water on demand. At $150–$250/year in savings over a 20-year lifespan, that's $3,000–$5,000 in energy savings — plus you never run out of hot water. The unit pays for itself.
Yes — we do tank-to-tankless conversions regularly. The main considerations are gas line sizing (tankless requires higher BTU, so your existing gas line may need upgrading), venting (tankless requires different venting than tank units), and electrical (most tankless units need a dedicated outlet). We handle all of this as part of the installation — gas line upgrade, new venting, electrical, and permits are all included in our quote.
We install Navien, Rinnai, and Noritz — the three most reliable brands in Canada. For most North Bay homes, we recommend Navien NCB series. They're condensing units (highest efficiency), built for cold climates, recirculation-ready for instant hot water, and have excellent warranty support in Canada. Rinnai is our pick for larger homes. Noritz offers strong value at a slightly lower price point.
A straightforward replacement takes 4–6 hours — typically done in one day. A full conversion from tank to tankless, including gas line upgrade and new venting, takes 6–8 hours. We schedule the work so you have hot water by the end of the day. In rare cases where gas line work requires a separate inspection, you may have a brief period without hot water.